FHA STREAMLINE REFINANCE GUIDELINES

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1 FHA STREAMLINE REFINANCE GUIDELINES MMI requires streamline refinance transactions to fully credit and income qualify. At this time, MMI is only offering streamlines without appraisals. Please see MMI s FHA Underwriting Guidelines for requirements on rate/term refinances. Maximum Mortgage Amount Calculation The maximum FHA insurable mortgage is the outstanding principal balance minus the applicable refund of the UFMIP plus the new UFMIP (subject to HUD/FHA County limits). Take the amount of the outstanding principal balance on the existing FHA-insured first lien and then subtract any refund of the UFMIP and add the new UFMIP. Closing costs, prepaids and discount points, if any, may not be included in the new mortgage. If the borrower has agreed to pay closing costs, prepaids and discount points, the assets to pay these costs must be verified. The amount of the outstanding principal balance may include the interest charged by the servicing lender when the payoff is not received on the first day of the month (as is typically assessed on FHA-insured mortgages) but may not include delinquent interest, fax fees, late charges or escrow shortages. Prepaid expenses may include the per diem interest to the end of the month on the new loan, hazard insurance premium deposits, monthly mortgage insurance premiums and any real estate tax deposits needed to establish the escrow account regardless whether the mortgagee refinancing the existing loan is also the servicing lender for that mortgage. Note: The appraised value reflected on the Refinance Netting Authorization must be used to determined LTV/CLTV as well as the remaining monthly MIP term and in order that the TIL is calculating the monthly payment stream accurately. UFMIP Refunds On FHA to FHA refinances (including streamlines), the MIP refund from the Netting Authorization will be selected based on the month of closing, not disbursement. For example, if a loan closes in June but does not disburse until July, the June MIP refund will be credited back to the borrower at closing. On any refinance where the MIP refund exceeds the MIP required on the new loan, the overage will be refunded directly to the borrower from HUD so that the borrower will not be burdened with additional out-of-pocket expenses. The lesser of the MIP refund or the new upfront MIP should be subtracted from the unpaid principal balance before calculating the new mortgage amount. For example: UFMIP credit is $2, (at previous 2.25%) which is greater than the new UFMIP of 1%. To calculate the new mortgage amount, take the existing balance $126,540/ = $125, x new UFMIP of = $1, $125, $1, = $126, Note that we are just refinancing the existing balance. In this case HUD would refund the $2, directly to the borrower. If we deducted $ from our Existing balance the borrower would have to bring assets to close. Note: The UFMIP credit must be applied on all FHA to FHA refinances (not just streamlines). Revised 4/19/11 1

2 Underwriting and Eligibility Criteria Seasoning On the date of the FHA Case Number Assignment: The borrower(s) must have made at least six payments on the FHA-insured mortgage being refinanced, At least six full months must have passed since the first payment due date of the refinanced mortgage, and At least 210 days have passed from the closing date of the mortgage being refinanced. FHA Connection will not issue a Case Number Assignment until this time has elapsed. If any of the above criteria are not met, the loan is not eligible for a streamline refinance (may be underwritten as a standard rate/term loan). Credit/Income Qualifying Required: All streamlines will be credit/income qualified. Funds to close: Borrowers are now required to provide evidence of sufficient funds to close. Total Scorecard/DU: Effective with case numbers assigned on 4/15/11 and after, HUD has rescinded Mortgagee Letter Brokers may not use Desktop Originator/eMagic on Streamline Refinances (including credit/income qualifying). These transactions will now be manually underwritten, and as such, manual underwriting documentation will apply. MMI will pull a Case Query on new Streamline submissions with Case Numbers on/after this date to verify the loan has not been run against TOTAL Scorecard. Loans with case numbers assigned prior to 4/15/11 may be run through an AUS (DU/eMagic) on streamline refinance transactions. DO/DU findings reflecting Approve/Eligible and Refer/Eligible (manual underwrites) are acceptable. Although all loans will continue to be credit/income qualified, MMI will generally validate to the conditions set forth by the AUS. However, there are circumstances where underwriters will need to add conditions to the loan. Processed 4506Ts for the last 2 years are still required regardless of AUS findings, and may be provided by the broker. The mortgage being refinanced must be current for the month due. For example, if the borrower is closing in April, the March payment must have been made within the month of March, and the April payment must be made by closing. The borrower has the option to make the April payment at the beginning of the month, or may include the April payment in the payoff amount at closing (as long as the loan disburses in April also). No 30-day or greater mortgage late payments in the most recent 12 months will be allowed. If the loan is seasoned less than 12 months, the mortgage payment history must show no 30-day or greater mortgage late payments since the inception of the loan. Subordinate liens, including credit lines, regardless of when taken, may remain outstanding, but subordinate to the FHA-insured mortgage, with a maximum combined loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio of 100%. For streamline refinances without an appraisal, the CLTV is based on the original appraised value of the property (see refinance netting authorization). If the subordinating second lien is a HELOC, the maximum accessible credit line must be subordinated and used to calculate the CLTV. Revised 4/19/11 2

3 Condominium Project Approval: Does not apply to streamlines without appraisals. If approval of a condominium project has been withdrawn, FHA will insure only streamlines without appraisals for that project. Net Tangible Benefit: It must be determined that there is a Net Tangible Benefit to the borrower as a result of the streamline refinance transaction. Effective with all Case Numbers assigned April 15, 2011 and after, a Net Tangible Benefit is defined as: A 5% reduction to the P&I of the mortgage payment plus the annual MIP; or Refinancing from an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed rate mortgage. This new guidance will allow borrowers who can reduce their P&I and MIP by 5% to do a streamline refinance, even if they have an increase in taxes and insurance, because borrowers must pay taxes and insurance regardless of whether they refinance. This will allow more mortgagors to qualify for a streamline refinance, increasing their ability to repay their mortgages. Note: Reducing the term of the mortgage, in and of itself, is not a Net Tangible Benefit. Also, when refinancing to a hybrid ARM, the new mortgage will be treated as a fixed rate for net tangible benefit purposes. The following table defines the permissible minimum thresholds in different refinance situations, and outlines what is new and existing guidance: Revised 4/19/11 3

4 To Fixed Rate One-Year ARM Hybrid ARM From Fixed Rate least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new at least 2 percentage points below the current interest rate of the fixed rate mortgage least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new One-Year ARM no greater than 2 percentage points above the current interest rate of the ARM least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new at least 2 percentage points below the current interest rate of the ARM Hybrid ARM During Fixed Period least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new at least 2 percentage points below the current interest rate of the ARM least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new Hybrid ARM During Adjustable Period no greater than 2 percentage points above the current interest rate of the Hybrid ARM least 5 percent of P&I and MIP (new at least 2 percentage points below the current interest rate of the Hybrid ARM For FHA Case Numbers assigned prior to April 15, 2011, Net Tangible Benefit is defined as: Fixed Rate to Fixed Rate - The new total mortgage payment is 5% lower than the total mortgage payment for the mortgage being refinanced. Total mortgage payment includes principal, interest, taxes and insurances, homeowners association fees, special assessments and all subordinate liens. ARM to ARM - The new total mortgage payment is 5% lower than the total mortgage payment for the mortgage being refinanced. Total mortgage payment includes principal, interest, taxes and insurances, homeowners association fees, special assessments and all subordinate liens. 203K to 203b - The new total mortgage payment is 5% lower than the total mortgage payment for the mortgage being refinanced. Total mortgage payment includes Revised 4/19/11 4

5 principal, interest, taxes and insurances, homeowners association fees, special assessments and all subordinate liens. ARM (One-Year) to Fixed Rate: The interest rate on the new fixed rate mortgage will be no greater than 2 percentage points (2%) above the current rate of the one-year ARM. Hybrid ARMs (3/1, 5/1, etc.) to Fixed Rate: The total mortgage payment on the new fixed rate mortgage may not increase by more than 20 percent (20%). Reduction in Term/Fixed Rate to Hybrid ARM: For transactions that include a reduction in the mortgage term or fixed Rate to Hybrid ARM (3/1, 5/1, etc.), that loan must be underwritten and closed as a FHA to FHA rate & term (no cash-out) refinance transaction (cannot be underwritten and closed as a streamline transaction). Maximum Term: The maximum term is limited to the lesser of: The remaining term of the existing mortgage plus 12 years, or 30 years The mortgage being streamlined must be FHA-insured as evidenced by an FHA Connection Case Query on the current mortgage. No cost refinances in which the borrower receives a Lender Credit to defray the borrower s closing costs and/or prepaid items are permitted. Adding Individuals to Title/Mortgage: individuals may be added to title/mortgage on a streamline refinance and must credit qualify. Deleting a borrower from title/mortgage: all remaining borrowers must credit/income qualify. At closing, the borrower may not receive cash back in excess of $500. FHA Secure to Streamline is not eligible for a streamline refinance (must be done as a standard rate/term refinance). Section 203K to Section 203B (including condominiums): All work must be complete, there must be a fully executed Certificate of Completion, and the rehabilitation escrow account must have been closed with a final release (as evidenced by a case query/case status from FHA Connection or Neighborhood Watch). The MIP and monthly (annual) MIP will be applied to the new loan. The borrower(s) cannot have more than four properties financed including the subject property. Maximum Qualifying Ratios: Effective with Case Numbers assigned on or after April 15, 2011, MMI will allow ratios up to 31%/43% (per manual underwriting guidelines), which may be exceeded with compensating factors. For Case Numbers assigned prior to April 15, 2011, MMI will accept ratios as determined by AUS with an Approve/Eligible. For Refer/Eligible loans, maximum ratios of 31%/43% apply; however, may be exceeded with compensating factors. A CAIVRS check is required for all borrowers. Revised 4/19/11 5

6 Documentation Requirements All Streamlines are credit/income qualified. The below documentation must be provided at time of submission to underwriting (see FHA Streamline Refinance Submission Form found on our website) Application Documents: FHA Loan Underwriting Transmittal Summary (HUD LT). Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), fully completed. FHA Addendum to URLA (HUD A) DO/DU/eMagic findings, if applicable Credit Documents: Tri-merged credit report for all borrowers. Borrower(s) must have a minimum middle credit score of 640 (non-traditional credit is not allowed) Mortgage payment history (if not provided on credit report) Mortgage payoff statement reflecting the mortgage is current. *We must have this in order to calculate the new mortgage amount loans cannot be underwritten without the payoff statement Copy of the original Note for the current mortgage to verify the P&I payment (needed to determine Net Tangible Benefit (per guidance effective with Case Numbers assigned April 15, 2011 and after), the borrowers, and the terms/conditions of the mortgage being paid off. If the current Note cannot be provided, similar documentation with the same information must be provided, such as a mortgage statement. Evidence of social security number for all borrowers. Income Documents: Manual underwriting guidelines apply, effective with Case Numbers assigned April 15, 2011 and after, and for Refer/Eligible AUS decisions prior to April 15. For Approve/Eligible AUS decisions on Case Numbers assigned prior to April 15, 2011, income documentation required is determined by AUS findings. A fully executed 4506T is always required to obtain the most recent 2 years W2s and 1040s, and may be processed by the broker (if not, MMI will process and charge accordingly). Assets: Manual underwriting guidelines apply, effective with Case Numbers assigned April 15, 2011 and after, and for Refer/Eligible AUS decisions prior to April 15. For Approve/Eligible AUS decisions on Case Numbers assigned prior to April 15, 2011, asset documentation required is determined by AUS findings. FHA Documents: Evidence LDP/GSA lists were checked to verify all parties associated with the transaction are not listed. Evidence of previous FHA Case Number (required to order the new Case Number Assignment) For TPO s that do not have their DE Approval, MMI will obtain: o FHA Case Number Assignment *MMI must have an active loan for the current borrower, with a valid property address (can no longer request Case Number Assignments on TBD properties) o CAIVRS Number Revised 4/19/11 6

7 o Refinance Authorization. Note: The appraised value reflected on the Refinance Netting Authorization must be used to determine LTV/CLTV. This will also ensure the TIL is calculating the monthly payment stream accurately. FEMA Declared Disaster Area Policy Streamlines without Appraisals in declared disaster areas will require a full appraisal on FNMA form 1004 to be completed, if application is taken within 120 days of the disaster incident period end date. Revised 4/19/11 7

8 MIP CASE NUMBERS ASSIGNED On/After April 5, 2010 MIP CASE NUMBERS ASSIGNED On/After October 4, 2010 REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS >15 YEARS 2.25% 2.25% >95 95 Premiumm.55%.50% REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS 15 YEARS 2.25% 2.25% >90 90 Premiumm.25% -None-- REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS >15 YEARS >95 95 Premiumm.90%.85% REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS 15 YEARS >90 90 Premiumm.25% -None-- MIP CASE NUMBERS ASSIGNED On/After April 18, 2011 REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS >15 YEARS >95 95 Premium 1.15% 1.10% REFINANCES (INCLUDING STREAMLINE REFINANCES) WITH TERMS 15 YEARS >90 90 Premium.50%.25% Revised 4/19/11 8